Fruit drier



July 7, 1925. 1,545,185

- 0. w. HANCOCK FRUIT DRIER Filed May 31. 1924 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRUIT DRIER.

Application filed May 31,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OsCAR TV. HANCOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Elkton, county of Douglas State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit Driers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in driers for fruit or the like and has particular reference to the ordinary tunnel drier commonly used in orchards at the present time. The principal objectof the present invention is to provide a means fa :ilitating the insertion of the trays on which the fruit is placed into the drier as well as the removal of the trays and the shifting of the It. further object of the invention is to provide a tray which may be made of metal so as to render the drier fireproof provided the other parts of the same are made of metal. It is proposed for this purpose to make the bottom of the tray of wire netting, since the fruit would cling to solid metal and develop a tendency to spoil. It is further proposed to provide the trays with wheels whereby their manipulation within the drier is facilitated. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of my tray, Figure 2 a vertical section through the same taken along line H of Figure 1, Figure 3 an end view of the same and Figure 4 an assembly view showing the manner of operating my trays in a tunnel. While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that various cianges or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto atthed without departing from the spirit of t invention.

The tray preferably used by me compr 2 a flat frame 1 preferably of rectangular form. having wire netting 2 stretched thereover and being provided with a marginal flange 3 which serves as a retaining member for fruit placed on the wire netting. A. .Cimilar frame t is placed against the bottom of the frame 1 and has a flange 6 extending downwardly therefrom. The latter flange is formed with projections 7 extending downwardly from the corners of the tray and serving as legs for the tray. The legs have pins 8 extending inwardly there- 1924. Serial No. 717,175.

from, on which latter are revolvably mounted the wheels 9.

The tunnel in which these trays may be used is well known in the art and not shown, therefore, in the drawing. It has a plurality of tracks 11 such as shown in Figure el arran ed in superimposed and spaced relation and each track is sufliciently long to accommodate a large number of trays. The tracks are mounted slantingly so as to allow the draft from the furnace to pass between the same to an exhaust port. The customary way of placing ordinary trays into the tunnel is to place the trays successively on the tracks from the upper end of the same and to push the trays, or the row of trays, disposed on the track downwardly along the track so as to allow of the insertion of new trays until the first tray has reached the lower end of the track. Thereafter new trays can only be added after the first trayshave been removed from the track. It is usually very difficult to push the trays along the track down to the lower end and this operation requires a man handling a. long pole, allowing him to push the trays forward individually.

Where my trays are used the operation is simplified considerably. The wheels riding on the track allow the trays to gravitate downwardly toward the lower end without any eliort on the part of the operator. It is necessary, of course, to provide some means for stopping the first tray when it arrives at the end so as to prevent the same from jumping off. F or this purpose I introduce he catch 12 that is a lever pivoted to the nearest upper track, as shown at 13, provided with a projection 14 which is normally held in the path of the advancing tray by means of a. spring 16. The particular arrangementof the catch is subject, of course, to many changes.

The advantages of my invention are apparent. The metal tray with the metal bottom allows of a fireproof construction of the whole drier. The wheels under each individual tay considerablyfacilitate the handling of the same, since it is only necessary for the operator to place each individual tray on the upper end of the track whereupon the tray will gravitate downwardly under its own weight. lVhen reaching the lower end of the track, the tray en-' gages with the catch 12 and comes to a stop. When it is desired to move one of the trays; it is only necessary for theoperato'r to release the catch over the position of the spring 16 and to allow the first tray to roll toward the operator; It will be11nde1'.-' stood that as the operator Withdraws the fi lifittray all the other trays will follow auto matically so that at no time is it necessary to push the trays forward on the ti'acl'i as is beingv plone at the presenttime.

claiiiiz h e o -.nd 04 '1l.1'l-"\J r 4 11d. t pose n superimposed and spaced relat on,

trays ha'viiig Wheels thereon ada ted to he successively placed on the upper end of the tracks so as to gravitate to ward the lower end and yielding ineans posed in superimposed and spaced relation,

individual trays having antifriction means thereon iiciapted to he successively; placed on the upper end of the tracks so as to gravitate toward the lower end ahd sprihg mules automatically engaging with the first tray on each track arresting its inotion.

""o'seAR W. i-mxoocx. 

